Thank you Red Roo

[romney]

We are all quick to complain when something goes wrong, so I want to praise Red Roo and Qantas for helping us today when they really didn't have to!

I bought some Qantas vouchers this time last year and for some reason had in my head they expired on 21st Dec. I went to book some flights last night to discover the expiry date was the 15th. We knew we had messed up, but thought we could only ask nicely if Qantas could help us and extend the vouchers. We called customer service and got told there was no way this could be done. I almost gave up then, but thought perhaps a PM to Red Roo could help.

Red Roo easily with no fuss agreed to help, and put us in contact again with customer service with a new reference number. We had to book straight away - which I was happy to do.

So Thank You Red Roo!!! Your help for a non-status person is very much appreciated.

 

[timster]

Why do they expire ?

 

[mannej]

Why do they expire ?

Most vouchers have a period of validity attached to them.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Most vouchers have a period of validity attached to them.

And I always wonder why we have allowed this to be the case.

 

[JohnK]

Why do they expire ?

Good question. They are hoping people will forget them and then not need to honour them. Easy money.

By the way Wish cards are the same. Virgin gift vouchers are the same.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Good question. They are hoping people will forget them and then not need to honour them. Easy money.

By the way Wish cards are the same. Virgin gift vouchers are the same.

Many the same JohnK - no sorry most - in fact does anybody know one that doesn't?

 

[romney]

Many the same JohnK - no sorry most - in fact does anybody know one that doesn't?

Funny you mention it - I bought some gift vouchers at Reading Cinemas only today and they made a point of saying they never expire! Hoping more places also head this way.

There is somewhere else I have bought vouchers a year or two ago that didn't expire - Bunnings maybe??? Can't really remember ...

 

[serfty]

And I always wonder why we have allowed this to be the case.

We? The lobbyists would have apoplexy ...

The businesses that sell them want it this way - I have come across several references to an expected breakage (i.e. non redemption) of around 30% ...

FWIW, for reasons I know not, Bunnings vouchers are the only mainstream ones I am aware of that do not have expiry dates.

 

[raleyoz]

Well that must be new as i have had several vouchers from bunnings and everyone of them had 12 month expiry dates. Might even have an expired one in the Glove box now, Damn it

 

[yohy?!]

Nice for the OP, I doubt a shareholder would agree with such a charitable act

 

[Hvr]

There are business reasons for gift vouchers to expire. One is fraud. As vouchers date it is harder to check their legitimacy. I remember working at Myer many, many years ago (last century to be honest!) and someone tried to redeem a gift voucher from the 70s, i.e. from more than 20 years ago. It took a lot of time to actually confirm its legitimacy.

Whilst this would be less of a problem in the computer age it would still arise.

Fraud issues increase the longer between purchase and redemption with it being harder to confirm whether or not the voucher has previously been redeemed or is even legitimate.

As for accounting issues well I am sure an accountant can comment on the liability issue and how vouchers are covered on the balance sheet. Depending on the value of outstanding vouchers it may constitute a business risk.

 

[serfty]

Well that must be new as i have had several vouchers from bunnings and everyone of them had 12 month expiry dates. Might even have an expired one in the Glove box now, Damn it

Maybe things have changed ... Beware gift cards that give up the ghost - CHOICE

 

[dajop]

Yes and some businesses to have a bit of leniency in re-instating relatively recently expired vouchers. My parents let $200 pass from ticketmaster 12 month validity vouchers by forgetting about them until a couple of months they expired. I know some businesses will be a bit proactive and reinstate some value with (or without a fee) or offer an alternate immediate spend like it seems Red Roo have with QF. Not ticketmaster though.

 

[JohnK]

There are business reasons for gift vouchers to expire. One is fraud. As vouchers date it is harder to check their legitimacy. I remember working at Myer many, many years ago (last century to be honest!) and someone tried to redeem a gift voucher from the 70s, i.e. from more than 20 years ago. It took a lot of time to actually confirm its legitimacy.

I have a voucher from a cafe/restaurant in Leichhardt to the value of $100. I won it as a prize ~2 years ago. Printed on A4 paper and there is no expiry date on it. Everytime I think of doing something about it I keep forgetting. I have gone on to their website a number of times to use it to order takeaway it requires a voucher number that does not appear on the voucher I have in my possession.

If I try to redeem now why would I have problems?

 

[Hvr]

I have a voucher from a cafe/restaurant in Leichhardt to the value of $100. I won it as a prize ~2 years ago. Printed on A4 paper and there is no expiry date on it. Everytime I think of doing something about it I keep forgetting. I have gone on to their website a number of times to use it to order takeaway it requires a voucher number that does not appear on the voucher I have in my possession.

If I try to redeem now why would I have problems?

Does the business still have the same owners? How do they know you haven't copied it and passed one to each of your friends? And so on. I can see several reasons why you might well have problems redeeming it.

I hope you don't but can why there might be issues.

 

[JohnK]

Does the business still have the same owners? How do they know you haven't copied it and passed one to each of your friends? And so on. I can see several reasons why you might well have problems redeeming it.

I hope you don't but can why there might be issues.

I am not sure if the business has new owners or not. I do not know the business nor should be expected to know the business. The voucher is in Sydney but I have not thought too much about originality or being able to copy the voucher. I will check again next week when I am in Sydney.

I have already written it off so if I do get to use it then it will be a bonus but it shouldn't be that way.

 

[medhead]

nice stuff.

Are you sure about the expiry date? I noted the other day that vouchers purchased on 15 December where showing an expiry of about 2 December. A couple of weeks short of 12 months.

 

[Duffa]

I had a book of 15 carwash vouchers from Spencer Street Melbourne, with no expiry. The business changed hands and new owners refused to honour them despite no change in trading name. Consumer affairs were unable to help. Should have known better.............

Anyhow. Good on ya Red Roo

 

[Claudius]

I am often surprised at all the time Red Roo spends helping people in this forum, I hope Qantas management are aware of just how positive an effect such actions have on the brand and continue supporting Red Roo to do this.

 

[eosphoros]

Why do they expire ?

Why? Because no company wants to be an indefinite creditor.